STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. – Toby D. Moore, vice president of communications for the Stone Mountain, Georgia-based USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), died Feb. 15. He was 68 years old.

Moore was born in Jefferson County, Georgia, and grew up in Midville, Georgia. He attended East Georgia Junior College in Swainsboro, Georgia, and graduated from the Univ. of Georgia School of Journalism.

He worked as a newspaper journalist in Madison and Commerce, Georgia, in public relations at GoldKist and as the vice president of communications for the USAPEEC in Stone Mountain for more than 20 years. Moore traveled extensively for the US poultry industry and the International Poultry Council.

After serving on active duty in the US Navy, Moore joined the Georgia National Guard in 1984. He deployed in Desert Storm and Bosnia, and he had a number of high-profile assignments including a media tour to Iraq during the 48th deployment in 2005. He served as the unit’s first sergeant.

In 2010, Moore was diagnosed with metastasized colon cancer. His urged everyone “to schedule a colonoscopy at 40, earlier if colon cancer is in your family.”

“Human nature being what it is, it would be easy to whip myself into a frenzy of self-pity, worry and dread.  but I choose not to do so,” Moore said after his diagnosis. “I have climbed the Great Wall of China, have seen the dusty herds of elephants along the Chobe River in Botswana, and have walked the marble corridors of Saddam’s palace in Baghdad. “I have danced to bouzouki music at a country taverna in Greece, and I have rocked my grandchildren to sleep on my shoulder.”

Moore is survived by his wife, Victoria (McLaughlin) Moore; children Kimberly (Brian) Syme and Mary (Jason) Steele as well as his sister Pamella (Jim) Sahr and nieces, grandnieces, grandnephew and a host of other relatives.

Condolences and comments may be viewed or sent to www.wagesfuneralhome.com.